Mmmkay insert nuclear hazard symbol here WARNING THIS IS NOT A DRILL I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU DYING IF YOU DO NOT GET IN THE LONG POST SHELTER NOW.
Ahem (remember this is basicalyl a copy+paste with some words changed and inserted).
What is rep?
Rep is a system in which a user can increase a users status (rep) or decrease it (derep) based on guidelines set by the forum.
Giving rep: Usually there will be a button added next to where the report button is (well, most forums have a different setup than this one, but same principle either way) that looks like a “+” or reads “give reputation” (usually a picture that says these things).
Types of Rep:
Positive rep
Usually represented (meaning I think this si default in vBulletin and included in the package) as a “green blip” on your rep sheet in the user CP, the positive rep is dictated by power (discussed later) and it increases your rep count. The more you get the better you are generally posting.
Negative Rep:
Usually shown by a red blip, this decreases your count by half the users rep power (except in the case of odd numbered powers, in which it is rounded up), getting these generally means you should probably take note of what they derepped you for and not do so anymore.
Arep
Areps (or “no reps”) are usually represented as little gray blips, these are given to you by people with zero power. These really mean nothing regarding the actual numbers on your sheet, but you should pay attention to the comment they left you to find out what you did to please/offend them.
Power:
Power is dictated by post count and amount of rep you have. The way I’ve seen that works best is as follows:
- to Power: Post count
1: 50 - 499
2: 500 - 999
3: 1000 - 1499
4: 1500 - 1999
5: 2000 - 2499
6: 2500 - 2999
7: 3000 - 3499
8: 3500 - 3999
9: 4000 - 4499
10: 4500 - 4999
11: 5000 - 5499
12: 5500+
- to Power: Reputation
set power to zero: -10 or lower
0: -9 - 249
1: 250 - 499
2: 500 - 749
3: 750 - 999
4: 1000+
Badges:
Not necessary, but they add something a little tangible that can make the system a little more fun and meaningful. Names are subject to change to reflect doper-themes. And numbers of rep and post count requires and rewards are of course subject to change to reflect the culture of the place and average post counts etc. This is simply the way I’ve seen it tuned, rewards and all (though some forum-isms have been altered to fit SDMB culture such as my mention of the pit on Low Karma).
Medium Karma:
Rewarded to those with at least 100 rep points and 150 posts. Powers include: being able to see who repped you (as MKs are expected to use this responsibly and not to venge-rep) and the ability to set yourself a custom title.
High karma:
Rewarded to people with at least 500 posts and 500 rep points:
High Karma is rewarded to users that truly set an example to others, all the powers of medium karma, plus extra PM storage space, and maybe something else they want to give you ;).
Low karma:
The dreaded LK, given to those with -10 and below rep points, these people are usually trolls. It doesn’t mean you should ignore them, it just means you should probably take their off the wall pit threads with a grain of salt. Punishment includes: Rep power being reset to zero, your user title being set to something like “Naughty Boy” (or whatever, this is what ti was when I saw the title adjustment) and often accompanied by a warning PM from a moderator.
Very low karma:
Given to people below -40 karma, after reaching this point you are auto-banned from the forums (though you can still PM a mod for an appeal of course).
How many people am I able to rep in a day?
You may only rep up to 5 people in 24 hours, and you cannot rep the same person until you have repped 20 other people.
A guide to how many reputations you have given in the last 24 hours is also included into the Rep Panel in the user CP.
"In the last 24 hours, you have given reputation to X posters.
You can give reputation to Y more posters today. "
The Daily Click Limit is how many times you’re able to give rep in 24 hours, and the Clicks Today is the number of times you have given out reputation in the past 24 hours. (This should be the default table at least)
But what rules? This will go nowhere if we have no regulations! Exactly, this is why we need rules in place.
Why to give rep:
Post is Helpful
Post is constructive
Post sets a good example for other dopers
Why to give derep:
The post is inflammatory
The post is abusive
The post is spam
The post breaks any other terms in the general forum rules
Basically any reason you’d also report to a mod, or those borderline posts that you wouldn’t necessarily report but are getting close to that territory.
Do not simply bandy around the forums looking for reasons to derep people. Use common sense - new members may not necessarily know the rules so point them in the right direction before scaring them away with bright red blips!
Incorrect reasons for giving reputation:
Do not rep someone because you like their signature or avatar, or derep them because you dislike their signature or avatar.
Do not rep someone because you like them, or derep them because you dislike them
Do not rep someone because you agree with them, or derep because you disagree with them. In the same spirit, it’s generally discouraged but not prohibited to rep someone because you like a picture they made or a song they wrote etc but it’s definitely out of the question to derep something of theirs based on personal taste against their art or idea.
Do not venge rep. Do not rep somebody because they repped you - either negative or positive. If you feel a reputation was given in error or unjustly, then take it to a mod or admin.
Do not give pity rep. Do not rep someone because they had a bad day at work, got flamed or any similar reasons.
Other guidelines:
There is a “comments” box in the repping form, do not leave abusive comments, leave helpful comments:
i.e. “That was good post -Jragon”
“That was spam, please try to stay on topic - Jragon”
It’s customary but not required to leave a name (i.e. if Medium Karma can see your name anyway it’s more of a reason for you to now always have to give your name)
Do not ask for rep:
This is called rep whoring, asking for rep is an offense and may actually lead to derepping!
No making threads/posts about rep:
There is a reason the rep system is private, don’t talk about rep people have given to you, except for a slight possible exception mentioned at the end of this post.
How will these rules be enforced?
Easy, give the mods tools to monitor rep and remove rep from the system (I think that’s a default privilege you can set) if it’s been given for a bad reason, that’s why I say PM a mod if you’ve been given a bad rep, or alternatively you can make a “rep complaints thread” (that was the exception I mentioned above) which you can post a rep issue there so the Mod’s inboxes don’t get flooded (though this is less private and may be disliked).
And a quick request:
Don’t make the number of rep a person has public. Only the following should be displayed (this is the way that prevents many disputes and is quite nice) Post count, repping power, badge (HK, MK, LK, VLK)
